Head Graphene Speed Pro : Strings

Looking for recommendations for this dense (18x20) pattern racquet. I currently have one set up with Technifiber X-1 Biphase @ 50 lbs. Next time I would probably string at a little higher, like 52. Has anyone found a good combination? I'm open to Poly, Syn Gut, Multi full beds or hybrids. I'm a high 3.5 or low 4.0. I hit fairly hard and flat off both wings and I'm always looking for an opportunity to come to the net to finish the point.

Looking for recommendations for this dense (18x20) pattern racquet. I currently have one set up with Technifiber X-1 Biphase @ 50 lbs. Next time I would probably string at a little higher, like 52. Has anyone found a good combination? I'm open to Poly, Syn Gut, Multi full beds or hybrids. I'm a high 3.5 or low 4.0. I hit fairly hard and flat off both wings and I'm always looking for an opportunity to come to the net to finish the point.

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I recently strung up two of these (18x20) with Head FXP Tour at the upper end of the tension range. The client loves the set-up. I hit with one of them and found it to be extremely comfortable and well balanced in the control/power department.

As an aside, it also played much better for me than his previous Speedflex 18x20 315's with the identical string set-up. Going by memory, since I did not have them side by side, the new racquet seems even a little more dense in the middle of the string bed than the 315 (despite the same 18x20 pattern and 100 square inch size), yet is somehow noticeably more forgiving on less than perfect hits. Really impressive racquet.

Looking for recommendations for this dense (18x20) pattern racquet. I currently have one set up with Technifiber X-1 Biphase @ 50 lbs. Next time I would probably string at a little higher, like 52. Has anyone found a good combination? I'm open to Poly, Syn Gut, Multi full beds or hybrids. I'm a high 3.5 or low 4.0. I hit fairly hard and flat off both wings and I'm always looking for an opportunity to come to the net to finish the point.

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My level is a bit different than yours but ill give you my experience so far.

1. Go lower by 5-7lbs than you usually do. The lighter tension wakes up the spin potential of the frame due to the denser pattern. That's been my finding over about 30 setups so far of all types

2. If you like gut/poly your really gonna like it on this frame. Wowwww

3. Haven't tried other hybrids other than gut/poly

Some setups:

Tier-one tour status at 51, good spin but a bit too much power for me but I could play with it.

Tier-one durafluxx at 52, excellent for me all around, low power but not dead, awesome pocketing, great spin. My current go to setup

VS team/signum PPP. 60/57. I went too high took a couple of sessions to get to where I wanted.

Genesis twisted razor 51, awesome setup all around but I prefer a bit less power

If I can ask why did you chose this racquet and string pattern ?? I don't mean this condescending and with allmdue respect but if you are a 3.5 - 4.0 then If your strokes resemble that level you may be making things harder on yourself with this dense pattern and swing weight ?

I just got my Graphene Speed Pro and had it initially strung wuth a full bed of Tonic+ natural gut at 58 pounds. That was my setup for the IG Speed 315 I was using before. I've found that the Graphene Speed Pro really requires lower tensions because of the denser pattern. I love the feel of the gut but 58 is too high. I will try 55 next time. I have to use natural gut because of tennis elbow. No probs with the stiffer GSP.

Parasailing and Chobakta have correct findings on this racquet.
Because it a dense string pattern then you have to go a low tension.
Something it the range of 51-55 depending on the string.
Please do not use a full bed of poly as this racquet doesn't play well with
that.

I think the FXP Tour blend as the person recommended is a sure thing.
They string the demos with this string.
If you like to hit flat and with power, the best is ALU Power on the
mains and Gut on the crosses then.

This racquet is for advance players of 4.5 and above.
It takes time getting use to, but it is fantastic.

Please do not use a full bed of poly as this racquet doesn't play well with
that.

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Interesting comment. I've used a full bed of Sonic Pro 17 and now Sonic Pro Edge in mine and it has been great. Tried 50-52lbs but have settled on 54 as any lower and it has too much power for my style of play.

Haven't tried a hybrid set up so can't comment but I just love the way it plays now so am not really looking to change anything. But I've got some Head PPS I use in my son's racquet so I might give that a try in the crosses.

Parasailing and Chobakta have correct findings on this racquet.
Because it a dense string pattern then you have to go a low tension.
Something it the range of 51-55 depending on the string.
Please do not use a full bed of poly as this racquet doesn't play well with
that.

I think the FXP Tour blend as the person recommended is a sure thing.
They string the demos with this string.
If you like to hit flat and with power, the best is ALU Power on the
mains and Gut on the crosses then.

This racquet is for advance players of 4.5 and above.
It takes time getting use to, but it is fantastic.

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I agree with your statements but to say that do not do FULL POLY EVER is a bit of a reach, there are very goof performing full poly jobs for this stick.

I've been using gut/poly the past 7-8 months but I am trying to test poly/gut again. I went from Hurricane Tour/Gut to Gut/Lux to Gut/Sonic Pro Edge.

It's really coming down to the Gut/Sonic Pro and Sonic Pro/Gut.

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And with the Sonic Pro Edge being "shaped" it has not affected durability? If I'm going to be spending the bucks on stringing my frames with NG, I don't want to be compromising durability with a bad cross that will saw through. Seemingly NG on this frame should be providing a good amount of sping already if you have advanced strokes, right?

And with the Sonic Pro Edge being "shaped" it has not affected durability? If I'm going to be spending the bucks on stringing my frames with NG, I don't want to be compromising durability with a bad cross that will saw through. Seemingly NG on this frame should be providing a good amount of sping already if you have advanced strokes, right?

Is Wilson NG really that much better than say Tonic or Pacific?

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I can't tell you yet for 100% certainty if the SPE will last long, but all the reviews say that the playability lasts a very long time, longer than a lot of polys out there like Lux.

I am about to jump back onto the poly main/gut cross hybrid. Not a popular choice on the boards here, but to each their own. I feel as if the gut mains poly crosses are just not giving me the ability to swing out on every ball and have consistent results.

Listen to this guy! thanks `parasailing. after a month and a half of playing that head hawk still good to play. BTW I'm a 5.0 player & plays 3times a week with some tournament weekends.

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Good to hear you like the string. Head Hawk does last a very long time. I even tried the 18 gauge version but found the 17g to be a bit more durable and I didn't feel there was much difference between the two.

In a full setup, I would go with 54lbs and use Wilson or Prince natural gut both of which is closer to the softer and plush non Babolat BT7.

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Strung one of my GSP with VS Touch @ 54lbs mains and SPE @ 52lbs crosses. Initial hit was pretty good, will be hitting more tomorrow morning. Pretty lively to be honest...maybe a bit too lively? I could see myself liking a lower powered cross perhaps.

Much much better than the full Cyclone job I had at 58lbs.

I did also string the other with Tour Bite 16L @52lbs mains and Gamma Syn Gut @ 54lbs crosses...just for a comparison.

Although I do want to try the Prince or Wilson NG...my local NYC shop (who only carries VS Touch NG) price matches TW and gives an extra 15% off of that, so I get VS Touch (black or natural) for $40 even.

I'm interested to know if Tonic or Pacific or Klip are comparable in terms of playability though. Although comfort is always welcome, my bottom line is I'm most concerned with feel, touch, spin, control (without blatant disregard for durability). If it truly comes down to splitting hairs between them strictly in regards to old school vs new school or issues of comfort...the savings would be worth it.

Head Hawk is probably the longest lasting poly string for the GSP. It holds tension so well compared to all the other polys I have tried and I have tried pretty much every other poly out there.

As far as gut, I think it's just a matter of preference. Having been a long time user of the old VS gut, I couldn't get use to the new BT7 especially considering how much more it costs. It does play similar to the old gut after maybe 6 to 8 hours of time on it but I still can't get past paying for something that isn't as good as before.

Pacific and other natural gut is not as plush as the old VS gut so it's not something I like but it is slightly cheaper.

you might want to try some cyclone tour, its a softer string and is quite noticable. it higher in power thought, but since you don't like rpm's i feel like the cyclone tour might be a decent alternative. but you should definately check your form and heal your arm.

i had te even with a soft racquet, cyclone gave me enough room for me to heal.

If I use nat gut main/ poly cross, will I need more than 20 feet of string in the mains? I would hate to use a full package of natural gut just for a hybrid.

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This may or may not be an issue depending on the type of stringing machine and where the locking mechanism is located away from the racquet when you string. On my constant pull machine, I definitely had to use a starting clamp and use extra string to bridge it to pull tension.